Deadly Illusions (Hardy Brothers Security Book 3)

by Hart, Lily Harper

  “I can’t help but feel it’s partially my fault,” Finn replied, going for honestly. “I was staring at you.”

  Emma snorted. “You’re meant to. It’s not a big deal. I should get back to work.”

  When she didn’t immediately leave, Finn tried to think of something else to say. No words would come.

  Emma waited a moment and then tugged on her arm. “I don’t suppose I could have my arm back.”

  Finn released her, realizing how stupid he must look. “Again. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” Emma said ruefully. “You’re just reacting the way the Madisons want every man in this place to react. If you buy a boat, they’ll figure their investment in me was money well spent.”

  “I’m not really a boat person,” Finn said.

  “No? I am. I would like nothing better than to live on a boat, far away from prying eyes, and finally have just a few minutes of peace,” Emma admitted.

  Finn could picture her on a boat – and it wasn’t just because she was wearing a bikini. “Well, when you say it like that, it doesn’t sound so bad.”

  Emma shot him one, last apologetic smile and then returned to her post. She stuck her hip out, extended her left leg, and put her hand on her hip. The smile was back on her face, but her eyes were filled with sadness.

  Finn returned to his chair, trying hard to fight the urge to look at her again. Her words had shaken him – although he couldn’t quite figure out why. She was clearly an unhappy young woman. Beauty obviously wasn’t everything.

  The boat show continued for several more hours, with Finn growing more and more anxious with each passing tick of the clock. He could feel Emma’s melancholy – even though she was almost ten feet away from him – and it was like he was drowning in her overt sadness.

  He let his gaze wander over the crowd as he tried to distract himself, his attention ultimately landing on a young man in his twenties who was standing next to one of the pillars near an adjacent booth.

  The man didn’t look like a normal boat-show visitor. He clearly didn’t have enough money to buy a boat, his dirty jeans and tattered Converse serving as a testament to that. He was also twenty years younger than the shopping demographic. On top of that, his eyes never settled on a boat – or any of the boating goods being offered by the other vendors. No, his eyes were focused on only one thing: Emma.

  The more Finn watched the man, the more uncomfortable he felt. Emma’s beauty had turned hundreds of heads over the course of the afternoon, but this head wasn’t looking in any other direction. Not even for a second.

  Finn sat forward in his chair, fixating on the man and forcing all of the other noises and distractions from his mind. Something was about to happen. He was sure of it.

  The man, his features hidden beneath the hood of his jacket, was fumbling in his pocket for something. When he found it, he pulled it out. Because his fingers were closed around it, Finn couldn’t figure out what it was. It was clearly too small to be a weapon, especially a knife or a gun. That didn’t mean that it wasn’t something dangerous.

  The man shifted his hand up higher, bringing his other hand over to help with whatever endeavor he was trying to complete. Finn was on his feet when he realized that the man had yanked the cork out of a vial, and was now striding toward Emma with a purpose.

  For her part, Emma seemed oblivious to the imminent danger. Finn was in front of her within seconds, knocking the man’s hand to the side and grabbing him by the neck in an effort to subdue him.

  Emma jumped back, glancing at the plastic casing over the diamond as the liquid landed there. There was a subtle ‘hiss’ when liquid and plastic collided, and then the plastic started to melt.

  A woman next to Emma screamed, causing nearby shoppers to panic. In the melee, Finn lost his grip on the perpetrator – and the man managed to disappear into the crowd. Finn started to give chase, pulling up short when he realized he couldn’t leave the diamond.

  He risked a glance in Emma’s direction. Her features were white, a balled up fist covering her mouth. Realization was dawning on her.

  Finn swooped in to catch her before she hit the ground.

  Three

  Emma woke up when cold water splashed across her neck, jerking in surprise. She found herself prone on the ground, her shoulders supported by strong legs and confident hands. When the face of the man holding her swam into view, she recognized Finn Hardy.

  “What happened?”

  “You fainted,” Finn replied, his face grim.

  “I don’t faint.”

  “Then you just performed a great audition for a soap opera,” Finn said. His brown eyes were soft and concerned. “How are you feeling?”

  “Weird,” Emma admitted. “I’m still not quite sure what happened.”

  “Well, some guy tried to throw something on you,” Finn said. “I managed to hit his arm. He got away when everyone panicked.”

  Emma straightened, glancing around at the mostly empty room. “Where did everyone go?”

  “To the nearest exit, I would guess,” Finn replied. “When someone screams at a public venue these days, most people think terrorism and run as fast as possible.”

  “You didn’t run,” Emma pointed out.

  “And leave a damsel in distress? That wouldn’t help my street cred.”

  Emma narrowed her eyes. After a moment, she realized he was joking, so she graced him with a small smile. “I guess I deserved that.”

  “I’m just trying to make you feel better,” Finn said. “Is it working?”

  Unfortunately, it was. Emma had written him off as a horny alpha male within thirty seconds of meeting him. The hard muscles rippling beneath his shirt, his easy smile, his handsome face, and smooth chatter had all been signs that he was not the type of man she wanted to get to know better.

  Now, with his hard chest pressed against her bare back, she was forced to rethink that position.

  “Can you stand?” Finn asked.

  “I think so.”

  Finn wrapped his hands under her arms and helped lift her up. He made sure her footing was solid before pulling away. “Hey, look at me a second.”

  Emma fixed him with a curious stare. “Why?”

  “I just want to check your eyes,” he said. “They seem fine.”

  “Thanks. I guess.”

  “I just don’t want you passing out again,” Finn said. “No need to get your panties in a bunch. I’m not hitting on you.”

  Emma scowled. “I already said I was sorry about that.”

  “I know,” Finn shot back. “Maybe I like seeing you suffer.”

  The jab hit Emma square in the gut, but she brushed it off. “You wouldn’t be the first man who liked that.”

  Finn bit his lower lip. “Why don’t you sit down?”

  “Why?”

  Finn pointed to the door at the far end of the room, which was currently filling with police officers. “Because they’re going to want to talk to both of us.”

  Emma sighed. “Great.”

  TALKING to law enforcement had never been one of Finn’s favorite tasks. After an hour chatting with St. Clair Shores’ finest – he felt like he was on the edge of a cliff, and he was ready to jump.

  “I don’t know how many different ways I can tell you what happened,” Finn explained to the officer questioning him. “It’s not going to change.”

  “I guess I’m just trying to understand what drew your attention to the man.”

  “He was acting strange.”

  “Strange?”

  “He just didn’t look like he belonged,” Finn said.

  “You’re part of Hardy Brothers Security, right?”

  Finn bristled. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “Nothing. I’m just curious.”

  “I am.”

  “Are you the one who saved the clerk or the reporter?”

  “Neither,” Finn said. “Those were my brothers.”

  “And how do you know
Ms. Pritchard here?”

  “I was running security for Madison’s Marina. She was the model they hired for the day. I don’t really know her. We just met this afternoon.”

  The officer shifted his gaze to Emma, looking her up and down with predatory eyes. “She’s not hard to look at. It must have been a nice afternoon.”

  Finn didn’t like the look. “She’s a person, not a thing.”

  The officer rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”

  “Am I done?”

  “Yeah, you can go.”

  Even though the Madisons had collected the diamond and taken it home for the night, Finn lingered. Another officer a few feet away was still questioning Emma, and she didn’t look happy. Finn found himself heading in her direction.

  “And you have no idea why someone would want to harm you?”

  Emma sighed, shaking her head. “I told you. I have never seen him before. I didn’t get a very good look at him. It all happened really fast.”

  The cop glanced down at the notebook. “And you’re Lance Pritchard’s daughter, right?”

  Emma visibly stiffened. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  Finn didn’t move from his spot, sensing the police officer had hit a nerve.

  “Well, your father is one of those most notorious criminals Macomb County has ever seen,” the cop prodded.

  “That’s my father, not me.”

  Finn furrowed his brow, wracking his brain. Lance Pritchard. Why did he know that name?

  “Your father left a list of victims a mile long,” the officer said. “Maybe your assailant was one of his victims.”

  Finn took a step forward. “Who is your father?”

  Emma squared her shoulders when she heard Finn’s voice. “You haven’t heard of Lance Pritchard? The man who molested fifty boys in ten years? Come on. That must ring a bell.” Her voice was hollow.

  Long ago news coverage niggled the back of Finn’s brain. He had heard the story. Lance Pritchard was a piano teacher who lived in Eastpointe, offering “free lessons” to underprivileged boys for years. He was revered as a hero in his rundown neighborhood until his very public arrest.

  Then, when the truth started coming out in a trickle, it didn’t stop until it was a raging waterfall. By the time everything was settled, Pritchard had been convicted on more than a hundred and fifty criminal sexual conduct charges and sentenced to life in prison. It had been big news about four years before.

  “You can understand why I think that one of your father’s victims would be responsible for an attack on you,” the police officer said.

  Finn felt a rush of anger course through him. “You’re treating her like this is her fault,” he said. “She was the victim here.

  The cop fixed Finn with unreadable eyes. “And you are?”

  “Finn Hardy,” Finn said. “I was running security when it happened.”

  “And can you supply us with a description of the suspect?”

  “I already supplied it to that guy over there,” Finn said, pointing.

  “So, why are you still here?”

  “Because I wanted to make sure Ms. Pritchard was okay,” Finn replied. “She was shaken after the attack.”

  “She looks fine now.”

  Finn rolled his eyes, turning so he could get a better look at the melted plastic display. “This looks acidic.”

  “Are you a chemist now? I thought you Hardys were more about guns and flouting law enforcement. Now you know about acid?”

  “I was in the Navy,” Finn replied, chafing at the police officer’s open disdain. “I’ve seen my share of acid. We used it on naval carriers from time to time. And, if you knew who I was, why did you ask me to identify myself?”

  The cop ignored the question. “Well … bully for you.”

  Finn glowered at the officer for a moment, standing toe-to-toe with him before finally fixing his gaze on Emma. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m great,” Emma said, her voice cold. “Can’t you tell? I’m Lance Pritchard’s daughter. That means I’ve earned everything that’s coming to me – even this.”

  “No one said that, ma’am,” the officer replied. “We just have to be open to all avenues of investigation here.”

  Finn reached over, grabbing Emma’s arm and tugging her toward him. “Well, why don’t you do your investigating then,” he said. “I think you’ve done just about enough here.”

  The officer shot Finn a disdainful glare but left, handing Emma a business card before going. “I’ll be in touch.”

  Emma forced a small smile onto her face. “Thank you.”

  Once he was gone, Finn looked her up and down. She was still wearing her bikini. And, since the room was now empty, the temperature had dropped a good twenty degrees. “I don’t suppose you know where your clothes are?”

  Emma waved to the table at the back of the booth. “They’re in a bag over there.”

  Finn retrieved the duffel, handing it to her wordlessly. Emma pulled a pair of jeans and a T-shirt out of the bag, dressing quickly. She tugged on a pair of tennis shoes – not bothering with socks – and then turned to him. “Thank you for staying. It really wasn’t necessary.”

  “Well, it’s not necessary to walk you out to your car either, but I’m going to do that, too.”

  Emma opened her mouth to argue, shutting it when Finn shook his head. “That’s non-negotiable. Let’s go.”

  After spending the day locked in the stifling heat, it was a relief to breathe in the fresh, night air. It was cold – bordering on frigid – but it was Emma’s coldness that was worrying Finn.

  “You know, that cop was just doing his job.”

  “I know all about cops doing their jobs,” Emma said. “I’m used to it.”

  “I’m betting you were questioned quite a bit when your dad was arrested,” Finn said. “That had to be rough.”

  “Finding out your dad has been molesting little boys? Yeah, it’s rough. He got what he deserved, though. If you think I’m one of those people who doesn’t believe in the guilt of a loved one, you’re wrong. I believed it from the beginning.”

  Finn tried to meet her gaze, but she averted her eyes. “It must have been hard on you. When things like this happen, people can’t help but blame the family.”

  “I know all about that, too,” Emma said, her voice bitter.

  Finn felt an overwhelming urge to reach out and touch her, offer her some form of solace. He had nothing to offer her. Actually, that wasn’t quite true.

  “You know, this is exactly the type of thing my brothers and I could help you with,” he said. “We could open an investigation.”

  Emma finally raised her chocolate eyes. “Why would you do that?”

  “Because you look like you need some help,” Finn replied honestly. “And, despite how much you seem to despise me, I want to help.”

  “What makes you think I need your help?”

  “You were attacked by a guy carrying a vial of acid,” Finn said. “If that’s not a plea for help, I don’t know what is.”

  “And what do you want in return?”

  Finn tamped down his irritation. “I don’t know, how about a thank you?”

  Emma’s eyes filled with unshed tears. “Thank you.”

  Finn exhaled deeply.

  “I can’t accept your help,” she continued. “Thank you for offering. Thank you for trying to help with the cop. Thank you for walking me to my car. I can handle this on my own.”

  Finn wanted to argue, her face told him it was fruitless. “Okay.” He reached into his back pocket, pulling out his wallet so he could hand her a business card. “Just in case.”

  Emma took the card wordlessly, nodding.

  Finn watched as she got into her small Honda and drove away, staring into the dark night long after she was gone.

  Four

  When Finn got back to Hardy Brothers Security, he found James sitting behind his desk in his office working on his laptop. James glanced at his brothe
r, then up at the clock, and then back to his younger sibling. “You’re late.”

  “It was an eventful day.”

  “The boat show was eventful? That’s got to be a first.”

  “The end of it was.”

  James lifted his eyebrow in question, causing Finn to launch into his story. When he was done, James swore under his breath. “Even a simple guard detail turns into mayhem for us these days.”

  “We do seem to have a knack.”

  “What about the girl?”

  “She was shaken, but I don’t think it was just the attack,” Finn said. “The cops were kind of hard on her.”

  “Why?”

  “She’s Lance Pritchard’s daughter.”

  James’ eyebrows knit together. “Why do I know that name?”

  “He was the big child molester from a few years ago,” Finn replied, filling in the gaps in James’ memory. “He was the one that went to Jackson for like three hundred years.”

  “Oh, yeah, I remember him,” James said. “He was a real scumbag.”

  “That doesn’t mean she is,” Finn shot back, feeling an overwhelming urge to stand up for the gorgeous brunette.

  James leaned back in his chair, fixing his brother with a curious look. “I didn’t say she was.”

  “Well … you kind of inferred it.”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “Well, she was the victim today,” Finn said. “She could have been seriously hurt.”

  “She wasn’t, though,” James said. “You saved her. Do you want to tell me why you’re so worked up over this?”

  “I’m not worked up,” Finn protested. “I’m just … tired.”

  “You’re tired?”

  “Yes. What? I can be tired.”

  James barked out a laugh. “Let me guess, she’s a boat model, which means she’s unbelievably hot, and you’re unbelievably attracted to her.”

  “I am not.”

  “It looks like I’m going to have another lovesick puppy on my hands.”

  Finn threw himself into one of the open chairs across from his brother’s desk. “I’m not lovesick.”

  “Not yet, no,” James said. “Although, you are showing clear signs to the contrary.”

  “Who’s lovesick?” Mandy asked, poking her head into the office.